The British science fiction television programme Doctor who which is produced by the BBC is the longest-running science fiction television show in the world. There won't be many people around the world who haven't heard of it. The programme is a national institution in the United Kingdom with everyone having their favourite doctor. Most people's favourite Doctor will depend on their age and when they were born. I for instance was born in the early 1970's so my favourite doctor was a classic, Tom Baker. If I were to give a favourite for the modern day Doctor who I would struggle to choose between David Tennant, Christopher Eccleston and the current Doctor Matt Smith.
Anyway as I am such a huge fan I thought I would put together an article of interesting and unusual facts about the show.
* There was one episode called 'Mission to the Unknown' where the Doctor or his companion's didn't actually feature in. William Hartnel who was the doctor at the time did receive a credit in rolling credit list.
* The English actor Chris Barrie who is best known for playing Arnold Rimmer in Red Dwarf auditioned to become the Tenth Doctor
* The ethereal theme tune was the first worldwide to be made up entirely from electronic sounds.
* Paul Cornell is one of the writers for Doctor who but also writes for many dramas including Casualty. In one episode of Casualty Paul gave each guest character the name of a character from The Seeds Of Doom which was an episode back in 1976 with my favourite Doctor Tom Baker.
* Because the show in the early days was so expensive to make The BBC thought that it would only manage four episodes. In 1963 Donald Baverstock who is a TV producer and executive, wrote: "Such a costly serial is not one that I can afford".
* In 1972, the year I was born, the BBC carried out some research and found that Doctor Who was considered one of the most violent programs on television at that time.
* The very first episode in 1963 earned the actor Willaim Hartnell 250 guineas.
* The longest serving doctor was Tom Baker who played the Doctor from 1974 until 1981.
* The English actor Barry Jackson has appeared in Doctor Who on two different occasions, both playing a character called Garvey but the two characters were unrelated.
* Apparently the Tardis cost over £4000 to build.
* The first episode was overshadowed by the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy the previous day.